James Elbert Randles was born in Hutchinson, KS, December 10, 1925 to James and Irma (Lewis) Randles. He passed away at Vista Grande Inn on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at the age of 87. He was the third of eight children.

The family moved to Montezuma County, CO in 1935 during the dust bowl period.

The Randles kids grew up moving from place to place.

As a result, Elbert always had a good memory of places and names of classmates and friends he met along the way. He was an independent minded young man, and lived largely on his own from the time he was 13 years old.

On March 2, 1949, Elbert married Norma Jean McKinney. The couple lived and loved in Leota, KS and had two children, Arthur and Mary.

Norma Jean died suddenly of a heart attack when Arthur was two and Mary was three months old.

Rather than let such a tragedy defeat him, he resolved to be the best father he could be and was a role model of hard work and determination his whole life.

His family, including his sister, Viola, helped him with the kids as they transitioned to their new lives.

He married Marvel Easton on April 9, 1954, and became a father to her son, Larry.

The family lived in Monticello, UT, Elbert working various jobs, including foreman of the lumberyard.

Elbert and Marvel raised Larry, Arthur, and Mary until they were grown, then the couple divorced.

On April 27, 1974, Elbert married Florence Wilson Hill.

The two had actually met much earlier while attending elementary school in Yellow Jacket, CO, when they were eight and 11 years old.

Florence remembered that he colored funny because he was colorblind; Elbert remembered her sweet smile. They met again when Florence was waitressing at the Ponderosa Café in Dolores.

Florence had four daughters, with the two youngest, Janet and Ellen, still living at home. He raised them as his own, working as a tire-man for Montezuma County.

Elbert lived a full life and shared his passion for living with all who knew him. He loved to drive. He traveled from coast to coast, from the northern border to the southern border and down into Mexico.

He and Florence enjoyed nine winter seasons in Quartzite, AZ after retirement, and continued to travel to visit family, friends, and special places along the way.

He figured he’d danced enough to dance across the country and back more than a couple times.

Elbert is preceded in death by his first wife, Norma Jean McKinney; second wife, Marvel Easton; brothers Glen, George, Floyd, and John Randles; daughter Mary Perkins; grandsons Micheal Garcia and Darren Darby; and great grandsons Cameron Darby and Dalton Lalonde.

The San Juan Record welcomes comments on our stories. Please be civil, respectful, focused and humane. Postings are not edited and are the responsibility of the author. You agree not to post comments that are abusive, threatening or obscene. Postings may be removed at the discretion of sjrnews.com